Should the regional transit commission take on operating costs for the Charlotte streetcar? Former Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx makes that suggestion in an interview while reflecting on his tenure as U.S. transportation secretary.

Unlike game species that are hunted and fished, species like migratory songbirds and aquatic mussels have not benefited from as much funding over the years. But North Carolina’s newly revised wildlife action plan is one tool that can help.

As charter school enrollment expands, statistics show they are more segregated than traditional public schools. Are they more effective? Research is inconclusive. A look at charter schools in the Charlotte region and their relationship to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Over our 50-year history at the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, we’ve been committed to looking at the whole Charlotte region. So a growing divide – real or perceived – among urban, suburban and rural areas is something we take seriously.

Charlotte for years has had a love-hate view of Atlanta, envying its vigor but not its sprawl and traffic congestion. Last year a Charlottean became Atlanta’s planning director. Tim Keane grew up in Charlotte and went on to be planning director in Davidson, and Charleston. In this interview he offers his thoughts on Charlotte, Charleston and Atlanta.

Incidents involving alleged and/or proven use of excessive police force against minority citizens followed by protests have sparked soul-searching by public officials and calls for action. Recent police-community conversations in Charlotte and Wilmington offer three lessons for the future.